Why there is no apparent noon–midnight red shift in the global positioning system: Comparing spin stabilized and gravity-gradient stabilized frames

Ronald R. Hatcha)

1142 Lakme Avenue, Wilmington, California 90744, USA

The recent paper, “Why there is no noon–midnight red shift in the GPS” by Ashby and Weiss [arXiv:1307.6525 (2013)], is critically reviewed herein. While their own criticism of Hoffmann’s paper [Phys. Rev. 121, 337 (1961)] is valid, their alternate solution is contradicted by direct evidence from the global positioning system (GPS) itself. They claim their solution is “…..based on fundamental relativity principles.” But fundamental relativity principles need to be based upon fundamental physics. GPS conclusively shows that the physics is not correct in their solution. Looking first at the underlying physics of spin stabilized and gravity-gradient stabilized frames reveals the errors found in the papers of both Hoffmann and of Ashby and Weiss. The physical principles that lead to an apparent absence of a noon–midnight red shift also reveal the mechanism for transforming the solar speed of light into the local speed of light in the earth’s frame and gives rise to the apparent relativity of simultaneity.